The City of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Hydro, plans to build its own photovoltaic installations, some two megawatts, on the roofs of about twenty City buildings, for an average size of 100 kW each. Offers for contracts are expected from the Ontario Power Authority in the near future, followed by issuing Requests for Proposals to contractors, with construction planned for later this spring. “The City of Toronto itself could be not just a sizable developer but an instigator of PV development in its area,” says APPrO Executive Director Jake Brooks.
It began with Toronto City Council’s adoption in December 2009 of a report entitled “The Power to Live Green: Toronto’s Sustainable Energy Plan,” which authorized staff to install renewable energy technologies on all City facilities, where feasible, by 2020. A further report to Council in July 2010 authorized the partnership program with Toronto Hydro.
City Council has authorized an ownership share in the projects of up to 49%, to a maximum of $8 million. The city expects to benefit in the form of revenue from a previously unutilized asset (roof space); improvements to local air quality, from displaced fossil-fuelled power; and improved energy security within the distribution system. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, in keeping with Toronto’s ongoing goal in that respect, are an added benefit.
The partnership model with Toronto Hydro has worked well, says Renewable Energy Office Manager Robert Maxwel – both parties have brought expertise to the table that has resulted in a successful program to date.
“One unanticipated side benefit is that the roof assessments we have conducted as part of the site selection process have been enthusiastically received by City staff who are responsible for building maintenance and repair,” Maxwel says. “These assessments have drawn attention to potential roof problems, allowing those staff to address them before they get worse (and therefore more expensive to fix). Another benefit has been the connections we’re developing with other municipalities who are involved with renewable energy. We’re hoping that a permanent ‘community of practice’ can be developed whereby we will be able to exchange information that will make us all more effective.”
See related stories in this issue of IPPSO FACTO: “Recurrent Energy to supply modules for 19 locations,” in Ontario news, page 13; “Vancouver company sets up PV in Puerto Rico,” and “ Day4 Energy enters the UK PV Market,” in the online version of this issue.
Related stories in this feature:
What’s behind Ontario’s PV boom?
Enbridge, First Solar announce more projects
First Solar and the Sarnia solar farm
Ontario’s solar sector evolves to meet the challenge of large scale application
The evolution of PV technology
Competition in the PV industry evolving quickly
How much is solar actually costing us?
Extracting additional benefits from solar installations